Cape May Point

Type:
Year Established:
1823
Existing:
Yes
Cape May Point
Download:
File Type:
jpg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2010
Photo Credit:
James Hill
Photo Courtesy of:
U.S. Lighthouse Society
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
DELAWARE BAY ENTRANCE
Latitude:
38° 56'
Longitude:
74° 57.6'
City / Town:
CAPE MAY
U.S. State:
New Jersey
Location County:
CAPE MAY
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
Yes
Light List Data:
  1. Cape May Point
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Tower Established:
1859
Tower Construction Material:
BRICK
Tower Foundation:
SURFACE ROCK
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
175
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
157
Tower Shape:
CONICAL
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1860
Keeper's Quarters Style:
CAPE COD
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
WOOD
Other Structures:
STORAGE BUILDING, BRICK OIL HOUSE (1893)

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
Yes
Current Optic:
DCB-36
Original Optic Type:
FIRST ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
1853
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

Historical Information:
Existing tower is the third tower to be located on Cape May Point.

First tower:

  • Built in 1823, was 70 feet tall and made of brick and located on a stone foundation.
  • Located west of the present tower at a site presently underwater.
  • Lighthouse was arched at top with a revolving light consisting of 15 lamps. The light flashed to distinguish it from the light at Cape Henlopen, across the bay in Delaware.
  • The first tower was discontinued in 1847.

Second tower:

  • Built in 1847 and located south of the present lighthouse.
  • Lighthouse was 78 feet to the base of the light and 94 feet high to the dome.
  • The light was produced by 15 concave reflectors mounted on a triangle making a full light every minute.
  • Poor construction and maintenance of the second lighthouse lead to the construction of the third lighthouse.
  • The second lighthouse remained standing until 1862 when the top was dismantled. The remaining ten feet of the second lighthouse was capped and used for storage, for an icehouse, and later for a stable. The sea has since claimed the remains of the second tower.
  • Keeper’s quarters constructed in 1847.
  • First Order Fresnel lens was supplied by Henry Lepaute.

Existing tower:

  • Constructed in 1859 after additional land was acquired in 1858.
  • Tower has a base diameter of 27 feet.
  • Light originally constructed with kerosene wick lamps.
  • In 1860 two keeper’s dwellings were completed. These dwellings were one and a half story structures with three rooms on the first floor and four rooms on the second floor.
  • In 1878 a Funck style lamp was installed.
  • In 1903 a new keeper’s quarters was constructed.
  • In 1910 an incandescent oil vapor lamp was installed.
  • In 1938 electricity was supplied for the light.
  • In 1946 the Fresnel lens was removed and is under the possession of the Cape May County
  • Historical Museum. A rotating 36-inch aero beacon replaced the Fresnel lens. This produced 350,000 candle-power and had a flash of once every fifteen seconds.
  • In 1964 the grounds were turned over to the State of New Jersey which created the Cape May Point State Park.
Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 21, 2017